37 valedictorians were honored by the City of Boston at a luncheon Tuesday, including a boy who was forced to evacuate from his hometown of Baghdad, Iraq.

Valedictorian at Boston school recounts emotional story of escaping Baghdad

37 valedictorians were honored by the City of Boston at a luncheon Tuesday, including a boy who was forced to evacuate from his hometown of Baghdad, Iraq.

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Updated: 6:33 PM EDT May 31, 2016

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WEBVTT ARCH DASS TODD KAZAKIEWICH INTRODUCES US TO A MAN WHO KEPT MOVING FORWARD. REPORTER VALEDICTORIANHE'S THE -- THE VALEDICTORIAN IS TELLING HIS LIFE STORY. >> AS THE SCHOOL DOORS SHUT, I HELD MY BROTHER TIGHTER BY THE HAND. OF BOMB HAD JUST GONE OFF IN OUR SCHOOL, AND I WANTED TO BE RESPONSIBLE. REPORTER: HIS PARENTS ARE IN TEARS AT TIMES AS HE RECOUNTS THE EMOTIONAL STORY OF THEIR FAMILY BEING WORST TO EVACUATE BAGHDAD, LIVING IN SEPARATE REFUGEE CAMPS. HE EVENTUALLY CAME TO AMERICA. >> THERE ARE NO SCHOOLS REFUGEE KIDS LIKE ME. REPORTER: STILL, HE BORROWED A FEW BOOKS FROM THE NEARBY LIBRARY. HIS RELENTLESS PURSUIT OF EDUCATION IS WHY HE AND HIS PEERS ARE AT THE TOP OF THEIR CLASS, HONORED TODAY BY THE MAYOR AND ADMINISTRATORS. >> YOU MAKE US PROUD WITH YOUR HARD WORK, YOUR RESILIENCE, AND YOUR MONITORING DESIRE TO SUCCEED. >> I CAN NEVER IMAGINE IN A MILLION YEARS THAT I WOULD ATTEND AN IVY LEAGUE INSTITUTION LIKE BROWN UNIVERSITY TO STUDY ENGINEERING. REPORTER: EACH OF THE 37 VALEDICTORIANS HAZENS ORIGINAL STORY. AS THE MAYOR PUT IT, THERE ISN'T JUST ONE HIGHLIGHT, THERE ARE 37.

Valedictorian at Boston school recounts emotional story of escaping Baghdad

37 valedictorians were honored by the City of Boston at a luncheon Tuesday, including a boy who was forced to evacuate from his hometown of Baghdad, Iraq.